Chemical Equilibrium Solubility

The solubility of a substance is dependent on the forces holding the crystal

together (the lattice energy) and the solvent acting on these forces. For now, we will
consider only water as the solvent. As the solid dissolves, water molecules surround the
ions in the solution by a process called hydration. During hydration, energy is released.
The extent to which the energy of hydration is greater than the lattice energy determines
the solubility.
The equilibrium involved in the solubility of a substance is:
MaXb (s) a Mn+ (aq) + b Xn- (aq)

( a general equation)

where M is the cation of change n+ and X is the anion of charge n-. The subscripts of
the salt become the coefficients for the ions. The equilibrium mass action expression
would be:
Ksp = [Mn+]a [Xn-]b
Notice that only the aqueous ions are part of the mass action expression. Solids are never
included. Also notice that the coefficient for each ion becomes the exponent in the mass
action expression.
There are four common types of solubility equilibria problems: solubility in pure
water (will a precipitate form or finding the molar solubility), solubility in the presence of
a common ion and selective precipitation. We will look at each of these in turn.
Solubility in pure water
Numerical problems involving solubility of a compound in pure water may fall
into two categories: (1) determining whether a precipitate will form when two aqueous
solutions are mixed or (2) determining the actual concentration of ions in a saturated
solution.
Lets examine the mixing of two solutions. The problem might read as follows:
Suppose 100.0 mL of a 0.0100 M CaCl2 solution and 200.0 mL of a 0.0200 M Na3PO4
solution were mixed. Would a precipitate form?
To tackle this problem, you must do a stoichiometry problem first. Start by
writing the balanced chemical equation:
3 CaCl2 (aq) + 2 Na3PO4 (aq) Ca3(PO4)2 (s) + 6 NaCl (aq)

Convert this equation into net ionic form by crossing out the spectator ions from the total
ionic form of the equation:
3 Ca2+ (aq) + 6 Cl(aq) + 6 Na+ (aq) + 2 PO43- (aq) Ca3(PO4)2 (s) + 6 Na+ (aq) + 6 Cl(aq)
3 Ca2+ (aq) + 2 PO43- (aq) Ca3(PO4)2 (s)

Find the initial concentration of Ca2+ ions and PO43- ions:

[Ca2 ]

0.0100 mol CaCl2 1 mol Ca2

x
0.0100 M Ca2
1L
1 mol CaCl2

[PO43-]

0.0200 mol Na3PO4

1 mol PO43 x
0.0200 M PO43 1L
1 mol Na3PO4

Next, determine the new, diluted concentration of calcium and phosphate ions resulting
from the mixing of the two solutions:

(0.100 L)(0.0100 mol Ca2 /L)

[Ca ]
0.00333 M Ca2
0.300 L
2

[PO43-]

(0.200 L)(0.0200 mol PO43 - )

0.0133 M PO43 0.300 L

Calculate the solubility product quotient, Q, based on the mass action expression of the
solubility equilibrium:
Q = [Ca2+]3[PO43-]2
Q = [0.00333 M]3[0.0133 M]2 = 6.53 x 10-12
Compare the value of Q to the value of Ksp. If the Q Ksp , then the solubility has not
been exceeded and a precipitate will not form. If the Q > Ksp, then the solubility has been
exceeded and a precipitate will form. The Ksp of Ca3(PO4)2 is 1.0 x 10-26. Since Q, 6.53 x
10-12, exceeds the Ksp of 1.0 x 10-26, a precipitate of Ca3(PO4)2 will form in this case.
A second type of solubility problem would ask to find the solubility of a pure
substance in water. Suppose the question asks for the solubility of calcium phosphate in
water. The equilibrium taking place is:
Ca3(PO4)2 (s) 3 Ca2+ (aq)

2 PO43- (aq)

The Ksp of calcium phosphate is 1.0 x 10-26, and is either given in the problem or can be
found on a table of solubility product constants. Below the equilibrium, show what is
occurring initially, the change needed to establish equilibrium and the conditions at
equilibrium:
Ca3(PO4)2 (s) 3 Ca2+ (aq)
Initial

2 PO43- (aq)

Change

+ 3x

+ 2x

3x

2x

Equilibrium

Initially, calcium phosphate has not dissociated, thus the concentrations of calcium ions
and phosphate ions is considered to be 0. Think of it as a reference point. To establish
equilibrium, some calcium phosphate must dissociate as a 3x amount of calcium ions and
2x amount of phosphate ions. Thus, at equilibrium, the amount of calcium ions is 3x and
the amount of phosphate ions is 2x. These values are substituted into the mass action
expression:
Ksp = [Ca2+]3[PO43-]2 = 1.0 x 10-26
= (3x)3(2x)2 = 1.0 x 10-26
As a reminder, Ca3(PO4)2 is a solid, and is therefore not a part of the mass action
expression.
Solve the above algebraic expression for x:
108 x5 = 1.0 x 10-26
x5 = 1.0 x 10-26/108 = 9.3 x 10-29
x

9.3 x 10 - 29 2.5 x 10 - 6

The value of x is the molar solubility of calcium phosphate. The actual concentrations of
Ca2+ ions and PO43- ions in solution is given by:
[Ca2+] = 3x = 3(2.5 x 10-6) = 7.5 x 10-6 M Ca2+
[PO43-] = 2x = 2(2.5 x 10-6) = 5.0 x 10-6 M PO43Using the molar solubility, one may calculate the actual mass of calcium phosphate
dissolved in one liter of water:
2.5 x 10 - 6 mol Ca3(PO4)2
310.18 g Ca3(PO4)2
x
7.8 x 10 - 4 g Ca3(PO4)2/L solution
1 L solution
1 mol Ca3(PO4)2

Solubility in the presence of a common ion

Suppose a salt of low solubility is found in the presence of a soluble salt in which
the cation or anion of the soluble salt is common to the cation or anion of the insoluble
salt. For instance, if a quantity of sodium phosphate is introduced to a saturated solution
of calcium phosphate, what would happen to the solubility of calcium phosphate? Lets
look at this problem qualitatively, first. The common ion is the phosphate ion.
According to LeChateliers Principle, if a stress is placed on an equilibrium, the
equilibrium will shift in the direction which relieves the stress. The stress in this case is
excess phosphate ion; the equilibrium will shift to the left, and one would see additional
precipitate of calcium phosphate form.
Ca3(PO4)2 (s) 3 Ca2+ (aq)

2 PO43- (aq)

Equilibrium shifts to the left in the presence of excess phosphate ion.

The lowered solubility of calcium phosphate becomes evident when the problem is
approached quantitatively. A typical problem would read:
What is the solubility of calcium phosphate in a 0.10 M solution of sodium
phosphate?
The equilibrium taking place is:
Ca3(PO4)2 (s) 3 Ca2+ (aq)

2 PO43- (aq)

Keep in mind that while excess phosphate will be present from the sodium phosphate,
sodium ion is just a spectator ion during the process.
To start the problem, set up an equilibrium table:
Ca3(PO4)2 (s) 3 Ca2+ (aq)
Initial
Change
Equilibrium

2 PO43- (aq)

0.10 M

+ 3x

+ 2x

3x

0.10 M + 2x

Notice how the initial amount of phosphate is not zero. This initial amount of phosphate
ion is contributed by the 0.10 M sodium phosphate solution. For equilibrium to become
established, a 3x amount of calcium ion is formed and an additional 2x amount of
phosphate ion from the dissociation of calcium phosphate is introduced. Thus, at
equilibrium, the amount of calcium ion in solution is 3x and the amount of phosphate ion
in solution is 0.10 + 2x.

Substitute the algebraic terms into the mass action expression:

Ksp = [Ca2+]3[PO43-]2 = 1.0 x 10-26
= (3x)3(0.10 + 2x)2 = 1.0 x 10-26
The above expression is a polynomial and its solution may require a serial approximation
method. However, solving for x may be simplified if the 2x term in the second factor
may be neglected. Recall that the solubility, x in pure water, had a magnitude of 10-6.
Comparing a magnitude of 10-6 to 0.10, one can see that 2x will be negligibly small, thus
can be neglected in the above expression. This simplifies the equation to:
Ksp = (3x)3(0.10)2 = 0.27 x3 = 1.0 x 10-26
Solve for x by dividing through both sides by 0.27:
x3 = 1.0 x 10-26/0.27 = 3.7 x 10-26
Next, take the cube root of both sides of the expression:
molar solubility x

3.7 x 10 - 26 3.3 x 10 - 9

As one can see, x, the solubility is quite small. Our assumption to neglect the 2x in the
original algebraic expression was valid. Also, one can quantitatively see how the
solubility has decreased, as predicted by LeChateliers Principle. In pure water, the
solubility was 2.5 x 10-6; in the presence of a common ion, phosphate ion with a
concentration of 0.10 M, the solubility of calcium phosphate decreased to 3.3 x 10-9.
Selective precipitation
Many compounds have variable solubility. This difference in solubility has a
practical application when attempting to separate metal ions in solution. Water
purification treatment plants use carbonates and sulfates to remove heavy metal cations
from your drinking water. Qualitative analysis schemes in a general chemistry lab course
often uses selective precipitation as the basis for identification of ions.
A saturated hydrogen sulfide solution (0.10 M H2S) is often used. This solution
can be adjusted to a desired sulfide concentration by changing the pH of the solution. By
controlling the sulfide ion concentration, one can selectively precipitate out the less
soluble metal sulfide. Recall in an earlier problem we examined how the reaction
quotient, Q, compared to the Ksp. This concept is applied here. If the sulfide ion
concentration in solution exceeds the solubility of one cation and not the other, the less
soluble metal sulfide precipitates (Q > Ksp), and the more soluble metal sulfide remains in
solution (Q Ksp).

Suppose one wishes to separate nickel(II) cations with a concentration of 0.20 M

from copper(II) cations with a concentration of 0.10 M. What pH must one adjust a
saturated hydrogen sulfide solution to achieve the separation and what is the
concentration of nickel(II) and copper(II) ions remaining in solution?
First, consider all the equilibria involved:
H2S(aq) H+ (aq) + HS(aq)

Ka1 = 8.9 x 10-8

HS(aq) H+ (aq) + S2- (aq)

Ka2 = 1.2 x 10-13

NiS (s) Ni2+ (aq) + S2- (aq)

Ksp = 3 x 10-19

CuS (s) Cu2+ (aq) + S2- (aq)

Ksp = 6 x 10-36

Determine the maximum sulfide concentration for each metal ion:

2-

[S ]max

Ksp
3 x 10 - 19

1.5 x 10 - 18
2
[Ni ]
0.20

[S2-]max

Ksp
6 x 10 - 36

6 x 10 - 35
2
[Cu ]
0.10

The above calculation shows nickel(II) sulfide is many times more soluble than
copper(II) sulfide. If the sulfide ion concentration is set to the more soluble [S2-]max of
nickel(II) sulfide ([S2-]max = 1.5 x 10-18), copper(II) sulfide will precipitate and nickel(II)
sulfide will remain in solution. The sulfide ion concentration is adjusted using a saturated
hydrogen sulfide solution as a function of pH. Since hydrogen sulfide is a diprotic acid,
there are two sources of hydrogen ions (H2S and HS), as shown by the first two
equilibria, above. It will be easier to solve for hydrogen ion concentration if only one
mass action expression were involved. With this in mind, combine the two equilibria into
one overall equilibrium:
H2S(aq) H+ (aq) + HS(aq)

Ka1 = 8.9 x 10-8

HS(aq) H+ (aq) + S2- (aq)

Ka2 = 1.2 x 10-13

H2S (aq) 2 H+ (aq) + S2- (aq)

Koverall = Ka1Ka2 = 1.1 x 10-20

The mass action expression for the above equilibrium is:

Koverall

[H ]2[S2-]

[H2S]

Rearrange the above equation to solve for the hydrogen ion concentration. Multiply both
sides of the equation by hydrogen sulfide concentration and divide both sides by the
sulfide ion concentration:
[H ]2

Koverall [H2S]
[S2-]

Take the square root of both sides of the equation:

[H ]

Koverall [H2S]
[S2-]

The concentration of saturated solution of hydrogen sulfide is 0.10 M. For sulfide ion
concentration, substitute the more soluble sulfide ion concentration calculated previously.
Substitute for Koverall. Solve for hydrogen ion concentration:
[H ]

(1.1 x 10 - 20)(0.10)
0.027 M
1.5 x 10 - 18

Finally, calculate the pH:

pH = - log[H+] = - log(0.027) = 1.57
This pH represents the maximum pH which must be maintained in order to separate
nickel(II) ions and copper(II) ions. Since the sulfide ion concentration is 1.5 x 10-18 M,
the actual copper ions concentration still remaining in solution is:
[Cu2 ]

Ksp
6 x 10 - 36

4.0 x 10 - 18 M Cu2
[S2-]
1.5 x 10 - 18

As one can see, the copper(II) ion concentration is indeed very negligible. The
concentration of nickel(II) ions remains 0.20 M as long as the sulfide ion concentration is
less than1.5 x 10-18 M.

Copyright, 2001, L. Ladon. Permission is granted to use and duplicate these materials
for non-profit educational use, under the following conditions: No changes or
modifications will be made without written permission from the author. Copyright
registration marks and author acknowledgment must be retained intact.